The Macallan’s latest release, the Double Cask 30 Years Old, stands as a testament to the distillery’s mastery of time-honored maturation techniques and its relentless pursuit of complexity in single malt whisky. Heralded as an extraordinary expression within the brand’s portfolio, this aged marvel is celebrated not only for its profound depth of flavour and intricacies of character but also for its distinction as the oldest offering currently available in the Double Cask Range.
The Macallan’s finest boasts a natural golden acorn colour, exuding aromas of fresh honeycomb, sweet toffee, red apple, fig and vanilla pod. On the palate, it offers a harmonious blend of cinnamon, ginger, Madagascan vanilla, dried fruits and oak. The finish is marked by sweet oak, gentle spice and a lingering hint of toffee.
For the launch of this addition to their Double Cask Range, The Macallan entrusted lauded American artist and photographer Erik Madigan Heck to bring the distillery’s vision of the whisky to life in a series of photographs. Heck’s work is largely inspired by nature and he similarly saw The Macallan Estate as a conduit for his expression.
“I was drawn to an oak tree and its leaves which provided the perfect subjects to evoke the seemingly simply, yet rich and complex character of Double Cask 30 Years Old and to depict the natural colour of the whisky,” said Heck of his work with the distillery.
If there’s one thing to note about the Double Cask range, it is that it is aptly named. The scotch is artfully matured in sherry seasoned casks fashioned from two types of wood- European oak sourced from the south of France and northern Spain, as well as American oak from the forests of Ohio, Missouri and Kentucky.
The presence of both are necessary to the delicate balance of flavours in the resulting alcohol, which has notes of sweetness from the American oak as well as the subtle and classic flavours The Macallan is known for from the European Oak. This particular offering is aged for a minimum of thirty years in the casks to create a smooth and delectable final product.
Whisky aficionados should note, this is one for the books.